Stanley “N” Lyman, age 96, was born in Oak City, UT on June 22, 1916, the first born son of Frederick Stanley Lyman and Ellen Jane Nielson. He passed away Monday, January 14, 2013.

Stanley spent most of his early years living on the farm three miles south of Grayson/Blanding (Shirt-tail Corner).

Stanley’s parents bought 80 acres of farmland and established this farm, which came to be known as Lyman Farms.

Stanley and his siblings, Lillian, Naomi, and Clisbee, grew up working hard on the farm. At one time Stanley milked up to 25 cows before and after school for their dairy. The family also owned a home, which was located on Center street at the present day Truck Stop.

The home provided welcome accommodations as they balanced their many responsibilities between farm and school, walked the miles back and forth, and fought the challenges the changing seasons brought.

Education was always a high priority in Stanley’s life. He served his 1933-34 senior year at San Juan High School as student body president and graduated as class valedictorian.

He was the fifth Eagle Scout in Blanding. He sang in operettas, performed in plays, and became a photographer working out of his home. He attended Utah State Agricultural College on a scholarship for a year, and later took a home-study course and received a Master of Diesel Mechanics degree.

Stanley and Clisbee formed a partnership purchasing, expanding, working and building Lyman Farms into one of the largest and most productive farms in San Juan County. Two of their better crops were wheat and pinto beans.

Stanley was always willing to help all who sought him for advice about or help with their farms or machinery. When certain machinery parts were unavailable, he was often known to invent and create parts and pass information along as he learned.

In 1970, Stanley was chosen as the Farmer of the Year by the San Juan Soil Conservation District, and was presented the Soil Conservation Award. Stanley loved and labored on and for Lyman Farms until his aging body forced him into retirement. He loved, appreciated and enjoyed so much working with Clisbee.

Other occupations during his life were: mining and blacksmithing with his granddad Walter C. Lyman at the Marvin Tunnel, mining uranium at cottonwood, working at the saw mill, hauling wood and cutting posts, driving tractor, tractor custom work, combining, and share-cropping.

His hobbies were flying (he belonged to a flying club), music (especially classical), photography, reading, rebuilding machinery, and earth moving.

Stanley was a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in which he served in various capacities including scoutmaster and stake missionary.

He met his sweetheart, Carol Porter, (daughter of Hyrum Porter and Lucy Carroll) in high school. Carol was the newspaper editor, putting the paper together, and Stanley was the manager, printing the paper. When they were seniors, they both ran for student body president. Stanley won. As they neared graduation, Stanley and Carol were even for valedictorian. Stanley was selected and Carol was salutatorian.

Stanley and Carol were married for time and all eternity in the Salt Lake Temple of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on October 28, 1937. Together they were blessed with two girls, Barbara Anne (Bobbi) and Yvonne, and a boy, Norman Stanley.

Stanley loved Carol very much. They were often holding hands. She was his whole life. Carol accompanied and helped Stanley on the farm, transporting him back and forth between home and the farm and driving tractor, as well as many other jobs that needed to be done.

He loved his family dearly and dedicated his life to providing for them and making sure they had a good education. Carol passed away on March 25, 1975.

On November 25, 1978, Stanley and Ruth Ellis Palmer were married. They had a wonderful life together, and he loved her very much. She was a welcoming friend to Stanley’s children, and a wonderful grandmother to Stanley’s grandchildren.

For some of Stanley’s grandchildren, she was the only grandmother they knew-Carol having passed away at age 59. Stanley and Ruth were married until her passing.

Friends and family gathered at the mortuary on Wednesday January 16, 2013 at noon and graveside service was held at the Blanding Cemetery at 1 p.m. that same day.

A memorial is in the planning for Saturday June 22, 2013 at Lyman Farms.

Card of thanksThe family would like to thank all those warm hearts and helpful hands that blessed Stanley throughout his declining years. Your thoughtful acts of service, smiles, prayers, and genuine friendship will forever be appreciated by Stanley and his family.

The San Juan Record welcomes comments on our stories. Please be civil, respectful, focused and humane. Postings are not edited and are the responsibility of the author. You agree not to post comments that are abusive, threatening or obscene. Postings may be removed at the discretion of sjrnews.com